Cuyahoga County poll workers report high turnout among first-time voters

WESTLAKE, Ohio – Jenna Bseiso, who turned 18 just three days ago, cast her first-ever vote Tuesday evening, making it just before the polls closed. The experience was both thrilling and nerve-wracking, she said, as she navigated the voting process she had observed on trips to the polls with her parents.

"I feel like this election is really monumental. There's a lot at stake for people my age, and I'm glad that I can put my voice out there," Bseiso said. "So many of my friends who are 17 are anxious, saying, 'I wish I could vote.' It feels really good to be able to make a difference."

Like many young voters, Bseiso highlighted issues, such as reproductive rights and the importance of representation.

"I'm excited that the first time I can vote, I'm able to vote for a woman for president. It makes it extra special," she said.

Bseiso was the last ballot cast at the Westlake Recreation Center polling location, which poll worker Emerson Emser said saw unprecedented voter numbers.

"Today has been really busy. We had lines like around the building," Emser said. "There's another location on this same campus, and they had lines even longer than we did."

He attributes the long lines to an increase in voter turnout across the board, especially among first-time voters.

On Monday, Secretary of State Frank LaRose estimated that Ohio will set a new voter turnout record in this election, beating the record set in 2020 of nearly 6 million votes.

Typically, at least 70% of Cuyahoga County will turn out for a presidential election. Final turnout numbers will not be available until election results are certified.

Polling sites in surrounding communities also saw unusually high numbers of voters. North Olmsted resident Regina Hopkins, 78, waited in her car for an hour and a half before joining the line, concerned about her walker and ability to stand.

"I've voted all my life, and I've never seen it like this," Hopkins said, citing rising food costs as a key issue in the election for her as a single widow.

One North Olmsted poll manager, Chris Meredith, said her location saw 1,587 voters with an hour left until polls closed, with unprecedented lines when polls opened. Her team had to request additional ballots around 3 p.m. – a first in six years.

"We had a line when we opened at 6:30 a.m. and didn't see it subside until about 9 a.m. We've never had a line like we did this morning." Meredith said.

Along with a rise in first-time voters, the location also saw an increase in senior voters and curbside voting, a service offered for people with mobility issues.

The scene was similar in Olmsted Township, where one family waited 45 minutes in a line that nearly reached the main road.

"It's more crowded than I've ever seen it," said Matthew Jr., who observed an unusually quiet atmosphere among voters. "I think we were all worried about finishing voting. We want to get our ballot counted."

Olmsted Township resident Gian Genovesi brought his young daughter along, hoping to foster a sense of civic duty.

"She wanted to come, and I'm hoping she'll come to a bunch more in the future," Genovesi said.

First-time voters received special celebration across all locations, with poll workers leading rounds of applause and cheers. While most new voters were young adults like Bseiso, poll workers noted several elderly first-time voters, as well. An Olmsted Township poll worker mentioned that even an elderly retiree was among the day's first-time voters.

Poll workers described the overall mood as a mix of nerves and pleasantries, with few incidents of conflict. For many, like Hopkins, the record turnout and long waits were worth it to exercise their democratic right.

"I think it's important for you to come in and make your voice heard," she said. "This is our right. We have a right to vote, and we should be able to vote."